On Sunday, March 8, 2026, the established concelebration of the Second Sunday of Great Lent was held in the town of Weiler-la-Tour in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas. This event has become an important gathering and occasion for Orthodox Christians to pray together in Luxembourg.
Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg presided over the hierarchical Divine Liturgy, accompanied by clergy serving the various Orthodox communities in the country: Ukrainian-, Serbian-, Romanian-, and Bulgarian-speaking communities. The cathedral clergy also concelebrated: the Hierarchical Vicar of Luxembourg, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Fr. Panagiotis Moschonas; Protopresbyter Fr. Spyridon Tsekouras; and the Archdeacon of the Holy Metropolis, Fr. Panteleimon Bakalis.
The chanters’ stand was served by the church’s Greek-speaking Byzantine choir, as well as its Romanian- and Bulgarian-speaking choirs. By singing the hymns in their native languages, the choirs highlighted the universal dimension of Orthodox worship and the unity of the faith despite the diversity of traditions.
Those present at this festive Divine Liturgy included the Ambassador of Greece to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Ms. Christina Alexopoulou, and the Archons-Offikialioi of the Ecumenical Patriarchate: Archon Didaskalos tou Genous, Mr. Theocharis Grammatikos; Archon Nomophylax, Mr. Gerasimos Xydias; and Archon Chartoularios, Mr. Dimitrios Papadopoulos. Also in attendance were Athanasios Rantos, advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union; Andreas-Konstantinos Gouras, chargé d’affaires of the embassy of Greece; Greek and Romanian officers serving with NATO in Luxembourg; and representatives of the Greek and wider Orthodox community of the country, including Eleni Foteinea, president of the Greek community of Luxembourg.
In his address, the Metropolitan referenced the day’s Gospel reading, which recounts the Lord healing the paralytic. He emphasized that Christ forgave the man’s sins before physically healing him, showing that the root of human suffering and spiritual illness lies in sin and estrangement from God. The Metropolitan emphasized that true healing and renewal begin with repentance and a return to communion with God.
Turning to the commemoration of Saint Gregory Palamas on the Second Sunday of Great Lent, he underscored the significance of prayer, asceticism, and purity of heart in the spiritual journey of the faithful. He noted that through asceticism and the grace of God, the human person is called to progress toward theosis, union with God, and receive the peace and joy of the heart as the fruit of this spiritual journey.
In closing, the Metropolitan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped prepare for and participate in the Divine Liturgy, as well as to the many faithful who traveled from across Luxembourg to pray together. Hailing from different Orthodox traditions and cultural backgrounds, they visibly exemplified the spirit of unity within Orthodoxy.
After the Divine Liturgy, a reception was held in the parish hall. Those in attendance had the opportunity to meet one another, receive spiritual strength, converse, and exchange ideas in an atmosphere of brotherhood and spiritual joy.
